Senior Associate Brand Manager – (CPG Food)
đź“Ť Chicago, IL (Downtown) | Full-time, Onsite (5 days/week)
We’re partnering with a high-growth Private Equity backed food company with a portfolio of iconic household brands to identify a Senior Associate Brand Manager.
This is an exciting opportunity for a strong CPG marketer who wants broad exposure across innovation, portfolio management, analytics, commercialization, and consumer activation within a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
🌟 Why This Role Stands Out
- Work on well-known, heritage food brands with national distribution
- Broad ownership across both strategy and execution
- Exposure to innovation, packaging, activation, and category management
- High visibility with cross-functional leadership teams
- Join a company in strong growth mode with an entrepreneurial culture
🥞 What You’ll Own
Portfolio Management
- Analyze syndicated data (IRI/Nielsen) and category trends to identify growth opportunities
- Monitor portfolio performance and recommend strategies to optimize long-term brand growth
- Support assortment and portfolio decisions based on market dynamics and consumer behavior
Innovation & Renovation
- Partner closely with R&D and cross-functional teams to commercialize innovation
- Manage packaging updates, artwork changes, and portfolio renovations
- Help drive innovation pipeline development from concept through launch
Marketing Activation
- Collaborate with agency partners on consumer-facing campaigns and in-market activations
- Support execution across various media and marketing channels
- Track performance and optimize activation strategies against brand objectives
Category & Consumer Insights
- Use consumer insights and syndicated data to support pricing, placement, and marketing decisions
- Contribute to category management initiatives and retailer-facing strategies
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Work closely with Sales, R&D, Operations, Finance, and external agencies
- Help lead projects across a matrixed organization in a fast-moving environment
✅ What We’re Looking For
- Experience in CPG marketing (food experience is a plus)
- Strong analytical skills with experience using IRI and/or Nielsen data
- Experience supporting innovation launches and commercialization
- Ability to manage agencies and communicate clear briefs
- Strong presentation and communication skills
🎓 Bachelor’s degree required; MBA a plus
🎯 Ideal Profile
You are:
- A proactive, hands-on marketer who enjoys both strategy and execution
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial culture
- Analytical, detail-oriented, and highly collaborative
- Passionate about building brands and driving measurable business impact